Guyana is aiming to end onion imports by the end of this year as the government expands local production, with Region Nine expected to lead cultivation alongside Regions Two, Five and Six.
Minister of Agriculture Zulfikar Mustapha said the country is targeting approximately 500 acres of onion cultivation as part of efforts to meet domestic demand through locally grown produce.
“At the end of this year we will not import any onions. Region Nine will produce all the bulk of our needs, plus Region Two, Region Five and Region Six,” the minister said.
Guyana began onion production as part of an integrated farming approach aimed at diversifying agricultural output, reducing reliance on imported produce and creating additional income opportunities for farmers.
The initial pilot project in Region Nine, Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo, recorded a harvest valued at more than $15 million, demonstrating the potential for local onion cultivation to contribute to the country’s food supply.
Minister Mustapha said the initiative forms part of a broader crop diversification drive that includes corn, soya, broccoli, cauliflower, carrots and lettuce, among other high-value crops.
He noted that farmers are embracing the integrated farming approach and encouraged interested persons to contact the National Agricultural Research and Extension Institute (NAREI) to explore opportunities to cultivate onions.
The government is prepared to support farmers who wish to enter the sector, including those with relatively small plots of land.
“I have already passed instructions that as long as they have an acre or two, we’ll work along with them. We will try as much as possible to provide the planting material, and we will give them all the technical guidance so that they can come on board,” Minister Mustapha said.
Through the expansion of onion cultivation and support for farmers, the government is seeking to strengthen domestic production capacity and move Guyana closer to meeting its onion needs without depending on imports.
This move forms part of the Caribbean Community’s (CARICOM) target of reducing the region’s food import bill by 25 per cent by 2030.